Liverpool Signings and General Rumours Thread

jesus_thats_gre

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Reina

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Finnan

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Carragher

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Agger

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Heinze

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Mascherano/Sissokko---Alonso/Gerard

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Pennant/Benayoun

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Riise/Kewell

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Torres/Crouch

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Kuyt/Voronin

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Subs: Lucas, Babel, Aurellio, Arbeloa, Carson

The subs are just a rough list of names. I could deal with that now, I must admit.

zing

Torres interview with Balague
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/liverpool/article2067396.ece

Whole transfer kicked off initially when Rafa was on holidays the week after the CL final. Around the same time the press were all speculating that we'd no money blah blah.

Jesus Wept

I've seen a number of posters put Aurelio in their teams, I haven't seen him play all that much for us yet, seems that there is a lot of faith in him... did he impress this much?

jesus_thats_gre

The-Rigger wrote:

I've seen a number of posters put Aurelio in their teams, I haven't seen him play all that much for us yet, seems that there is a lot of faith in him... did he impress this much?

No to be honest. He started to show alot of potential just before his most recent injury but in general he has been average in the PL and good in the CL. Still though, defo good enough to provide cover anywhere along the left flank.

yom 1

quote taken from the times:

Steve Finnan is poised to become the latest player to commit his long-term future to Liverpool after Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso, José Manuel Reina and Mohamed Sissoko. The Ireland defender has been offered a two-year contract with the option of an extra 12 months.

Fair play, nothing less than he deserves. Has been outstanding for us over the last few years and has seen off all comers for the position. Now if only Stan would realise that!:p

The Rooster

I believe Aurelio will be no more or no less than a solid squad player. Will do a decent job when filling in for lads who are rested or injured.

I'd love to get Heinze. But will believe it when I see it.

If we do get Heinze, or another good left back, then I believe Riise will be sold. I wouldnt be surprised if a deal has already been agreed with another club - but obviously nothing will happen unless Rafa is sure he has a replacement first. The main reason I suggest that is it seems he is one of the few that has not been offered a new contract.

raven136

dont think riise will be sold,he offers more than aurelio,who imo looked nothing more than average and we would all be saying as much if he played for a team outside the top 4.
Heinze despite a poor season last year is a better player than our other left backs.It seems pretty obvious now that rafa has very little faith in his left backs.

on an other note,malouda and alves(if they get him) for chelsea is a fierce wing combination to be facing next season

Zapp Brannigan

Benayoun to wear number 11. Also Arbeloa has had his squad number changed to 17. Could number 2 be being kept for Heinze?

PHB

The problem with Riise is that he is a world class wing back, no doubt about it, but he is an average left winger, and a good left back, but not top class. If Liverpool played 3-5-2 there would be few better players, but they don't. I hope Heinze doesn't go, I'd be disappointed to see him in a Liverpool shirt, but if he does he'd be a pretty good signing (assuming he plays like the season before, not last season, which I think he will)

If I'm not mistaken, the last time Man Utd sold a player to Liverpool, Liverpool won the league and United ****ed up on a treble

sweetie

PHB wrote:

The problem with Riise is that he is a world class wing back, no doubt about it, but he is an average left winger, and a good left back, but not top class. If Liverpool played 3-5-2 there would be few better players, but they don't. I hope Heinze doesn't go, I'd be disappointed to see him in a Liverpool shirt, but if he does he'd be a pretty good signing (assuming he plays like the season before, not last season, which I think he will)

If I'm not mistaken, the last time Man Utd sold a player to Liverpool, Liverpool won the league and United ****ed up on a treble

Which season do you mean? The last or the one before? Who was the last player that moved between them?

PHB

Phil Chisnall

The one before, when he played well

Thanx 4 The Fish

Directly, think it was Phil Chisnall, and I do not think liverpool won the league that season.
He moved in 64 didn't he, we did not win the league that season, and he didn't do much really.

PHB

Directly, think it was Phil Chisnall, and I do not think liverpool won the league that season.

Yeh no, my memory is failing me

zAbbo

Press Conference at 1.15pm, if anyone is interested, prolly on SSN

Unveiling Babel and Yossi

zing

Zapp Brannigan wrote:

Benayoun to wear number 11. Also Arbeloa has had his squad number changed to 17. Could number 2 be being kept for Heinze?

Arbeloa wore 17 while at Deportivo - could be nothing more than him taking his preferred number now that Bellamy has vacated it.

Tusky

Can someone with SSN on let me know when it starts so I can leg it to the sitting room ?

Vokes

Is Babel right-footed ?

Chardee MacDennis

left i think- apparently over the last year he has hired two personal coaches because he felt Ajax's coaching wasnt helping him improve. he hired one for pace and another to help him be able to cross with both feet.

Vokes

Hmmm.

I'm after reading elsewhere that he's right-footed but he plays left-wing-forward. If that's true he must do a lot of cutting in rather than going to the byline.

RE*AC*TOR

New squad numbers are out

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/

no number 1 or 2. Dudek was 1. Reina's keeping his current number....

Number 2... new fullback? ... Heinze?

Chardee MacDennis

wikipedia says he is right footed - and thats never wrong!!!

Daemonic

Even the LFC site has Babel as a striker

LFC.tv wrote:

Position: Striker
Date of Birth: 19/12/1986
Height: 6'1
Weight: 12st 4
1st team games: 0
1st team goals: 0
International caps: 14
International goals: 4
Former clubs: Ajax
Birth Place: Amsterdam

Maybe Rafa is planning for 2-4-4

zing

Daemonic wrote:

Maybe Rafa is planning for 2-4-4

Well people do keep saying we're too defensive and don't play enough attacking football

RE*AC*TOR

Benayoun & Babel Press Conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=todNixCy-6A

Zapp Brannigan

Benitez said he sees Babel as a winger but is happy he can be used as a striker if needs be.

zing

Zapp Brannigan wrote:

Benitez said he sees Babel as a winger but is happy he can be used as a striker if needs be.

Striker for CC & FA cup then ..

The Rooster

From the official website

while the returning Scott Carson will be number 26

Scott, we've every confidence in you being able to challenge Reina for the goalkeeper's position at Liverpool - the good news is number 1 is now spare, so here is number ............. 26

PHB

Babel is a wing forward, in the classic dutch sense. Like Van Persie or Robben, although he is more like Robben than Van Persie.

Zapp Brannigan

People seem to have contrasting opinions on Babel. I've heard he's got a good touch but poor finishing and then I've heard that his first touch his poor but his finishing makes up for it. Only conclusive opinion is that he's fast.

mike65

Just nicked this off RAWK

Confirmed In's
Andriy Voronin (Bayer Leverkusen) - Free.
Sebastián Leto (Lanús) - 2,500,000.
Lucas Pezzini Leiva (Gremio) - 6,750,000.
Krisztian Nemeth (MTK Hungaria) - 750,000.
Andras Simon (MTK Hungaria) - 750,000.
Alexander Kacaniklic (Helsingborgs) undisclosed.
Gary Makay Steven (Ross County)- undisclosed.
Marvin Pourie (Borussia Dortmund) - undislosed.
Jay Spearing (Acadamy graduate.)
Ray Putterill (Acadamy graduate).
Martin Hansen (Acadamy graduate).
Nikolay Mihaylov (Levski Sofia) -undisclosed.
Mikel San Jose (Athletic Bilbao) 270,000.
Dani Pacheco (Barcelona) - undisclosed.
Mihail Aleksandrov (CSKA Sofia) - undisclosed.
Fernando Torres (Athletico Madrid) - 20,300,000
Ryan Crowther (Stockport County) - undisclosed.
David Amoo (Millwall) - undisclosed.
Yossi Benayoun (West Ham Utd) - 4,500,000.
Ryan Babel (AFC Ajax) - 11,500,000.

Confrimed out's
Jerzy Dudek - Released.
Robbie Foweler - Released.
Daniele Padelli - Released.
Boudewijn Zenden - Released.
Florent Sinama Pongolle - Sold to Recreativo Huelva for 2,700,000.
David Roberts - Released.
Danny O'Donnell - Sold to Crewe Alexander for 100,000.
Luis Garcia - Sold to Athletico Madrid - 2,700,000.
Djibril Cisse - Sold to Olympic Marseille for 5,400,000.
Craig Bellamy - Sold to West Ham Utd for 7,500,000.
Mark Gonzalez - Sold to Real Betis for 3,500,000.
Danny Guthrie - Contracted till 2009 - Loaned to Bolton FC for 07/08 season.
Godwin Antwi - Contracted till 2009 - Loaned to Hatlepool FC for 07/08 season.
Paul Anderson - Lonaed to Swansea FC for 07/08 season.
Adam Hammill - Loaned to Southampton FC for 07/08 season.

Net spending ( +24,970,000.)

Mike.

PHB

Rafa's views:

"I feel we are going in the right direction," said Benitez. "If you look at the value of the squad three years ago and its value now, the squad is much better.

"I don't know, however, if it will be enough for winning the title. Manchester United won the title and are spending more money than anyone.

"Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are also spending lots of money but at least we are competing with these teams in the market and that is important.

"We needed to go one step, maybe two steps at a time, but in fact we are going a little bit faster than anticipated."

redzerdrog

i just noticed rafa is in support of zapp brannigans stand up forum:)

jesus_thats_gre

"We needed to go one step, maybe two steps at a time, but in fact we are going a little bit faster than anticipated."

Liking the fact that he thinks he is somewhat ahead of where he planned to be.

Sunn

any indication of the other player we will be signing? or will it be more?

Tonio

Sunn wrote:

any indication of the other player we will be signing? or will it be more?

I will be greedy and hope that we sign Mancini or Quaresma or Alves along with Heinze.

Lex Luthor

looking at Babel on youtube, he looks very comfortable on the wing and with both feet, but his preference seems to be right, but if you see his footage of him playing with his left, you would never know

eirebhoy

SofaKing wrote:

Well i reckon our strongest 4-4-2 lineup is easily...

Reina

Finnan     Carragher      Agger       Riise

          
             Mascherano   Alonso 

Gerrard                                  Babel

     
                Kuyt
                         Torres

Swap Babel for Benayoun and I'd agree. I actually look forward to seeing Benayoun and Alonso link up. Liverpool will be passing teams off the park.

zAbbo

eirebhoy wrote:

Swap Babel for Benayoun and I'd agree. I actually look forward to seeing Benayoun and Alonso link up. Liverpool will be passing teams off the park.

yeah, I think I agree with that, Benayoun is a replacement for Luis Garcia, Babel is a bit of a wildcard imo.

PHB

Sky are reporting Liverpool are making a move for Mancini:

Liverpool are mulling over a move for Roma's Alessandro Mancini, according to the player's agent.

Mancini enjoyed a superb campaign last season and has reportedly attracted the attention of several clubs, including Juventus and Liverpool.

His representative Gilmar Veloz claims he has talked with Rafa Benitez about a possible transfer, although he admits the two clubs have yet to enter negotiations.

"There has been interest from Liverpool and I have spoken with Benitez," Veloz told Radio Centro Suono Sport.

"I replied that they must talk with Roma, but if the Giallorossi were to sell him I'd have no trouble striking a deal."

Mancini's current contract runs out in 2009 but Veloz insists his client would like to remain with the club.

However, the Brazilian has yet to agree a contract extension and Veloz admits his future remains uncertain.

He explained: "On Monday I'll be meeting with Roma sporting director Daniele Prade to talk about contracts, I don't know what their offer is yet."

"Does Mancini want to stay? Surely if he didn't he would have already left."

Reports in the Italian press suggest Mancini will consider leaving if he is not offered a substantial pay rise.

Sounds to me like the classic case of using external interest to get the contract you want.

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As a side note, if Heinze does move to Liverpool, I think it's a mistake to think he'll be there as a LB. He has frequently stated his desire to play central defense for United, so it would be surprising if he's considering moving to Liverpool unless Rafa sees him in that position.

RE*AC*TOR

I can't see it happening without more players leaving first.

Stky10

Is the Crewe game being shown on tv anywhere?

Thanx 4 The Fish

LFC.tv I think.

If you have that setanta package you are away

copacetic

Thanx 4 The Fish wrote:

LFC.tv I think.

If you have that setanta package you are away

having just bought this to go with sky, what channel would it be on??

Thanx 4 The Fish

Have not got the foggiest lad, just look through it until you find it would be my advice

mike65

Two of the new boys are in small spot of passport bother with Home Office boyos

story

Mike.

Tusky

PHB wrote:

Sky are reporting Liverpool are making a move for Mancini:



Sounds to me like the classic case of using external interest to get the contract you want.

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As a side note, if Heinze does move to Liverpool, I think it's a mistake to think he'll be there as a LB. He has frequently stated his desire to play central defense for United, so it would be surprising if he's considering moving to Liverpool unless Rafa sees him in that position.

Id love it to be true as I still don't think we've bought anyone that will walk into the first 11 bar Torres but unfortunately it looks like he wants more money at Roma and is using 'old' interest to try achieve that.

copacetic

Thanx 4 The Fish wrote:

Have not got the foggiest lad, just look through it until you find it would be my advice

had a decent look and there doesn't seem to be any of the setanta or sky channels showing this? are you sure its on?

Are you talking about the actual liverpool channel? That's not launching until september as far as I know?

Tusky

copacetic wrote:

had a decent look and there doesn't seem to be any of the setanta or sky channels showing this? are you sure its on?

Are you talking about the actual liverpool channel? That's not launching until september as far as I know?

http://sportslive.media.daum.net/live_tiny/player.jsp?channel=KL&league=WCLUB&game=WCLUB2007071201&home=1&away=6

BIG GUNS BACK FOR CREWE CLASH
Paul Eaton 14 July 2007
Rafael Benitez will give many of his key players their first run out of the season for this afternoon's clash at Crewe.
The Reds' boss is expected to once again use a different side in each half of the game as he gives as many of his players as possible a run out before they set off for their pre-season training camp in Switzerland.

Likely first half team:

Reina
Finnan
Hyypia
Roque
Riise
Spearing
Peltier
Gerrard
El Zhar
Crouch
Voronin

Likely second half team:

Martin
Arbeloa
Carragher
Agger
Paletta
Putterill
Sissoko
Alonso
Pennant
Lindfield
Kuyt

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N156388070714-1425.htm

Chardee MacDennis

i'm surprised idrizaj isnt gonna get a look in.

Daemonic

Disappointing not to see Idrizaj in the squad after last weeks hat-trick.